Grace Thompson
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Holy Trinity in the Catholic faith. It is believed that the Holy Spirit is Almighty God, co-equal and co-eternal with God the Father and the Son of God. Catholics can invoke the Holy Spirit through prayer, with short invocations like Come Holy Spirit, fill my heart, or Holy Spirit, fill me with patience. The Holy Spirit is also invoked during Life in the Spirit Seminars, where ministers lay their hands on participants, as described in Acts 6:6.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Invocation | "Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love" |
| Trinity | "Father, Son and Holy Spirit" |
| Trinity Order | "Third Person of the Blessed Trinity" |
| Nature | "Spirit of truth, love and holiness" |
| Prayer | "Teach me to know and to seek God, by whom and for whom I was created" |
| Gifts | "Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, Fear of the Lord" |
| Scripture | "You will start to connect the dots between different Scripture passages that you never thought of before" |
| Seminars | "Life in the Spirit Seminars" |
| Laying on of Hands | "The laying on of hands to receive the Holy Spirit is very biblical" |
| Confession | "Confession, along with a firm purpose of amendment to never sin again, restores our relationship with the Holy Spirit" |
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What You'll Learn
The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit
The standard interpretation of these gifts has been outlined by St. Thomas Aquinas in the thirteenth century in his Summa Theologiae. According to Aquinas, wisdom is the knowledge of and judgment about "divine things" and the ability to judge and direct human affairs according to divine truth. Understanding is penetrating insight into the very heart of things, especially those higher truths that are necessary for our eternal salvation—in effect, the ability to “see” God. Counsel allows a person to be directed by God in matters necessary for their salvation. It functions as a sort of supernatural intuition, enabling a person to judge promptly and rightly, especially in difficult situations. Fortitude denotes a firmness of mind in doing good and avoiding evil, particularly when it is difficult or dangerous, and the confidence to overcome all obstacles by virtue of assurance in God. The gift of knowledge allows one to see things from God's perspective. Piety, the sixth gift, is the willingness to worship and serve God out of love. Finally, the gift of the fear of the Lord puts God in the proper perspective, allowing a person to understand the greatness of the Lord and their relationship to Him.
These gifts are infused into every Christian at baptism and are nurtured by the practice of the seven virtues, which in turn are perfected by the exercise of the gifts. The proper exercise of the gifts produces the fruits of the Spirit, including love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness. The goal of this cooperation among virtues, gifts, and fruits is the attainment of the eight-fold state of beatitude described by Christ in the Sermon on the Mount.
Catholics can invoke the Holy Spirit in their lives through prayer and by attending Life in the Spirit Seminars, where they learn to praise God and receive the laying on of hands.
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The laying on of hands
In the New Testament, the laying on of hands was associated with Christ healing the sick and, after his ascension, the receiving of the Holy Spirit. Acts 6:5-6 states that the Apostles initially laid hands on new believers. The practice continued in the early church and is still used in a wide variety of church ceremonies.
In Eastern Christianity, the laying on of hands is used for the ordination of higher clergy, including bishops, priests, and deacons. This is distinguished from the blessing of the lower clergy, such as taper bearers, readers, and subdeacons.
In the Catholic Church, the laying on of hands is used in some of the rites for the Seven Sacraments. It is an essential gesture for the Sacrament of Holy Orders (diaconate, priesthood, and episcopacy). It is also part of the rituals for the Sacrament of Confirmation and the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.
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Holy Spirit Chaplet
The Holy Spirit Chaplet, also known as the Chaplet of the Holy Ghost, is a prayer to the Holy Spirit that originated with Pope Leo XIII in 1895. He encouraged all Catholics to make this Holy Spirit Novena with the special prayer: "Send forth your Spirit and renew the world".
The Holy Spirit Chaplet was composed in 1896 by Blessed Elena Guerra, also known as "the Holy Spirit Apostle of modern times". It consists of 5 groups of 7 beads each. There are also 2 large beads before and after each group (12 in total), and 3 small beads at the beginning. The prayers to be said on these beads are as follows:
On the three small beads at the beginning, make the sign of the Cross, recite an act of contrition, and the hymn "Come Holy Ghost".
On each of the 7 small beads, say the "Glory Be": "Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen."
On each of the large beads, say the "Our Father" and a "Hail Mary".
On the remaining 2 large beads, say the Apostles' Creed and another "Our Father" and "Hail Mary" for the intention of the Holy Father.
The Chaplet also includes seven mysteries invoking the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. In each mystery, ask for a gift of the Holy Spirit and repeat the following prayer seven times:
> "Father, in the Name of Jesus, send forth your Spirit and renew the world."
Conclude with: "O Mary, who by the work of the Holy Spirit, conceived the Savior, pray for us."
- "Come, O Spirit of Wisdom, detach us from earthly things and infuse in us a love and taste of heavenly things."
- "The Spirit of the Lord rested upon Jesus when he was baptized."
- "By the Spirit is Jesus led into the desert to be tempted by the Devil."
- "The Holy Ghost in the Church."
- "The Holy Ghost in the soul of the just man and just woman."
This information is specific to the Holy Spirit Chaplet. For more general information on how to call for the Holy Spirit as a Catholic, please let me know. There are also other chaplets that may be of interest, such as the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, which is preceded by two opening prayers from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska. Holy Spirit Chaplets are also available for purchase on Etsy, in the colours of the Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters.
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Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Prayer is a powerful way to invoke the Holy Spirit and connect with God. Here is a guide on how to call upon the Holy Spirit through prayer, with a selection of prayers for different purposes.
Preparing to Pray
Before beginning your prayer, it is important to prepare yourself spiritually. Touch your forehead and say, "In the name of the Father." Move your hand to the centre of your chest and say, "...and of the Son." Then, touch your right shoulder and say "...and of the Holy," before tapping your left shoulder and saying, "Spirit." Finally, place your hands together and say, "Amen."
Short Invocations
When you are short on time, you can use brief but powerful invocations to call upon the Holy Spirit. Examples include:
- "Come, Holy Spirit, fill my heart."
- "I stand before you, Holy Spirit."
- "Holy Spirit, fill me with patience."
Prayer for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit
The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. To invoke these gifts, you can pray:
"Holy Spirit, Divine Spirit of light and love, I consecrate to Thee my understanding, my heart, and my will, my whole being for time and eternity. May my understanding be always obedient to Thy heavenly inspirations and the teachings of the holy Catholic Church, of which Thou art the infallible Guide; may my heart be ever inflamed with love of God and of my neighbour; may my will be ever conformed to the divine will, and may my whole life be a faithful following of the life and virtues of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, to whom with the Father and Thee be honour and glory forever. Amen."
Prayer for Guidance and Strength
If you seek guidance and strength from the Holy Spirit, you can pray:
"Breathe into me, Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may be holy. Move in me, Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy. Attract my heart, Holy Spirit, that I may love only what is holy. Strengthen me, Holy Spirit, that I may defend all that is holy. Protect me, Holy Spirit, that I may always be holy. Amen."
Prayer for Faith and Love
To ask for increased faith and love, as well as for guidance to follow Jesus, you can pray:
"Oh Holy Spirit, You are the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity. You are the Spirit of truth, love, and holiness, proceeding from the Father and the Son, and equal to Them in all things. I adore You and love You with all my heart. Teach me to know and to seek God, by whom and for whom I was created. Fill my heart with a holy fear and a great love for Him. Give me patience and keep me from sin. Increase faith, hope, and charity within me, and help me to grow in the four cardinal virtues, Your seven gifts, and Your twelve fruits. Make me a faithful follower of Jesus, an obedient child of the Church, and a help to my neighbour. Amen."
Prayer for a Special Favour
If you have a special request or petition, you can pray:
"Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Grant me also, O Holy Spirit, Giver of all good gifts, the special favour for which I ask [name your request], if it be for Your honour and glory and for my well-being. Amen."
Remember, prayer is a personal dialogue with God, and you can adapt and personalise these prayers as you feel led.
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The Holy Spirit in art
The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Holy Trinity in the Catholic Church and many other Christian denominations. Since the Holy Spirit does not have a physical form, artists have used various depictions to represent it in art.
The Holy Spirit has been represented in Christian art in both the Eastern and Western Churches using a variety of depictions. The majority of early Christian art depicts the Holy Spirit in an anthropomorphic form as a human with two other identical human figures representing God the Father and Jesus Christ. They either sit or stand grouped together to portray the unity of the Holy Trinity.
The Holy Spirit is often depicted as a dove, based on the account of the Holy Spirit descending like a dove on Jesus at his baptism. In many paintings of the Annunciation, the Holy Spirit is shown in the form of a dove, coming down towards Mary on beams of light as the Archangel Gabriel announces Christ's coming. A dove may also be seen at the ear of Saint Gregory the Great, as recorded by his secretary or other church father authors, dictating their works to them. The dove also parallels the one that brought the olive branch to Noah after the deluge, as a symbol of peace.
The Holy Spirit has also been represented as a flame, based on the account in the Book of Acts, which describes the Holy Spirit descending on the apostles at Pentecost "in the form of a wind and tongues of fire resting over the apostles".
Artists have also portrayed the Holy Spirit through an angel inspiring a saint, the action of the Spirit during Holy Communion, and abstract interpretations of Pentecost. Medieval and Renaissance images of St. Jerome, for example, often depict him in the wilderness, accompanied by a tame lion from which he pulled a thorn from its paw.
The Holy Spirit has been represented in various artistic media, including paintings, stained glass windows, sculpture, calligraphy, and illuminated manuscripts.
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Frequently asked questions
Catholics can call upon the Holy Spirit through prayer and meditation.
Here is a prayer to the Holy Spirit from Catholic Online:
> "Oh Holy Spirit, You are the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity. You are the Spirit of truth, love and holiness, proceeding from the Father and the Son, and equal to Them in all things. I adore You and love You with all my heart. Teach me to know and to seek God, by whom and for whom I was created. Fill my heart with a holy fear and a great love for Him. Give me compunction and patience, and do not let me fall into sin."
Yes, the Catholic Church sponsors Life in the Spirit Seminars, where participants learn how to praise God and invoke the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands.
Invoking the Holy Spirit can help recharge spiritual batteries and deepen one's understanding of Scripture. It can also bring about an increased love for God and one's neighbour.
Here are some brief prayers that Catholics can use to invoke the Holy Spirit:
- "Come Holy Spirit, fill my heart."
- "I stand before you, Holy Spirit."
- "Holy Spirit, fill me with patience."
